European Union

The spokesperson of High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice President of the Commission Catherine Ashton issued the following statement today:

"The High Representative is concerned by the visit of President Omar Al-Bashir to Chad, a State party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

She firmly recalls the importance of all Member States of the United Nations abiding by and implementing the resolutions adopted by the Security Council under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, in this case, UNSCR 1593(2005). She urges Chad to respect its obligations under international law to arrest and surrender those indicted by the ICC.

The European Union is a staunch supporter of the ICC and the fight against impunity. The most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole: genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, must not go unpunished and their prosecution must be ensured by measures at both domestic and international level."